Female Teachers And Sexual Misconduct Addressed In World Premiere Play

Drama playwright Linda Felton Steinbaum is so fascinated by the rush of female teachers accused of sexually abusing their male students that she has been moved to write a play, Mustang Sally, addressing manifold issues and trends inequality. This case is almost too much to list, "Linda said." What's even more shocking is how young the victims are. Most of us assume that if a female teacher 'falls down' for a minor, he must be very young and almost immature. That's not it. Surprisingly, the majority of these teens are still crazy, awkward kids. "

Here are some cases that caught the eye of drama editors - all of them teachers; Lakina Stutts, 40, with 14-year-old student Deana Bobo 37, sex with 14-year-old Mary Kay Letourneau 34-year-old while attending school with 12-year-old Bethany Sherrill 24 with 14-year-old Kelly Lynn Dalecki 28 13-year-old Sherry Brians 41 - 12-year-old Pamela Turner 27 - 13-year-old Susan Eble 35 - 14, Tara Lynn Crisp 29 - Laura Lynn Findlay, 14-year-old Carol Flannigan 50 - former student 11-year-old Moan Marie Sladky, and don't forget the well-known Debra LaFave, a 25-year-old blonde bombing teacher in Tampa, FLA, pleaded guilty to sex with a 14-year-old boy. The list goes on and on.

Forensic psychologist Louis B. Schlesinger at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York, quoted in a Fox News story, "Older women involved with no-man, nothing new, for years. is the right path ... the guy is lucky. Some adult men and women are attracted to teens, "Schlesinger said. "These are teachers with boundary problems. Their boundaries are very fluid." (article by Catherine Donalson-Evans, published on Feb 12, 2005)

"However, it would be a crime if the boy was underage," said Linda, "although sex is consensual." He goes on to say that these boys are often confused by the messages they see in movies, tv and media. And the message is repeated - if they are offered sex, especially from the authority figure, they must submit, whether they want to or not, to obey and also prove their competence. Many boys may be physically ready but not emotionally ready for intimate relationships. "

"I researched this topic in depth," says Linda, "and have done my best to present the typical case of female teachers involved in sexual misconduct (statutory rape) with boys in the game. The psychological term for the situation is & # 39; hebophilia ', which is a sexual attraction to teenagers, or minors. This is more often than you think, and it annoys me that this can be taken lightly by society We must protect our boys and children we send other female teachers who may find themselves 'attracted' to their young students when men convicted of statutory rape are sentenced to 10 years or more in prison while female perpetrators usually get probation or house arrest? "

As Matthew Felling, media director of the Media and Public Affairs Center said, 'The main dichotomy is in coverage - men are being raped, women being diagnosed. Men are animals, but women are problematic, or mentally ill. "

The play, Mustang Sally, has attracted leading theater director Arturo Castillo to lead the project. Arturo has directed exhibitions at many major Equity venues including the National Theater in London. As a producer, I can say we are very excited to have an Arturo caliber director committed to this production. I have worked with Arturo before and, like me, he only does important work that brings out the truth or reveals the real needs of society. For info, visit mustangsallytheplay.com or myspace.com/mustangsallyplay.

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